Parliamentary speaker Omurbek Tekebaev left the Security Council meeting after Usen Sydykov, head of the presidential administration, insisted that President Bakiev would not attend the session if Tekebaev were present. Tekebaev, who reportedly made disparaging comments about Bakiev on 7 February, recently announced that he is planning to resign. Asiya Sasykbaeva, director of the Interbilim civil society support center, told akipress.org on 9 February that Tekebaev said he will resign if the authorities guarantee his security for the next 1 1/2 years and do not harass his supporters. (akipress.org)